Putin 'thuggish and dishonest', says top British diplomat

Vladimir Putin is "thuggish, dishonest and wreckless", a top British envoy has told American television.

Sir Peter Westmactott, UK ambassador to the United States told US network MSNBC the Russian President's move to "steal" Crimea was beginning to "look like the wrong call" in light of the MH17 air disaster and anticipated EU sanctions.

He added that Russia had met none of the conditions required to avoid further sanctions and had in fact shown more cross-border interference in Ukraine since the airliner came down.